The National Security Adviser, NSA Nuhu Ribadu, has said he won't join issues with former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

This was after El-Rufai accused him of trying to destroy his reputation because of his (Ribadu 's) 2031 presidential ambition.

El-Rufai also revealed that there's a collaboration between the NSA, his successor in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) towards his destruction.

El-Rufai made the allegation while speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.

“This project of destroy Nasir El-Rufai is Nuhu Ribadu’s conception. He is the architect and builder of that project. He is the one working with Uba Sani to implement it. So far, it has been frustrating for them,” he said.

“Somebody wants to destroy my reputation. Why? Nuhu Ribadu wants to be president in 2031. He has to eliminate every northerner that he thinks is on the radar.”

The former governor also revealed that, contrary to popular believe, his ministerial nomination was not rejected by the National Assembly but by President Bola Tinubu.

El-Rufai's nomination as tabled by the President failed to scale through at the National Assembly due to security reports from the State Security Service.

However, El-Rufai stated that Tinubu simply “changed his mind on the nomination.”

“After serving for eight years as governor of Kaduna state, I had my plans. The President publicly appealed to me to put my plans on hold and after sometime we finally agreed that he would nominate me as a minister, and there were certain conditions I attached to that. I think along the line, either the president changed his mind or something else.

“Please, don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The President didn’t want me in his cabinet, he changed his mind. Whatever it is, frankly, I don’t care,” he said.

Reacting, Ribadu said he won't get into a media fight El-Rufai because of the respect he has for their past.

He said in a statement, "If my silence wouldn't risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.

"Despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.

"I however urge the public to disregard El-rufai's statements against me.

"For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration.

"I therefore ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me face my onerous national assignment just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs."

ASA